True stories OF GREAT SKILLS AND HAPPY LIVES
Sinustako iisalmelainen
-BINGO
Welcome to Iisalmi! Our city is known as an active and dynamic regional centre. Iisalmi is just the right size to provide a great place to live, an exciting destination for visitors and an excellent location for your business. Our idyllic city centre is set beside a beautiful lake and has been built on a grid plan. To enjoy the glorious views over the lake, you only have to stroll across the park by the marina. The town’s parks and squares were designed to form a cross linking the churches. They create a nationally significant cultural environment offering urban walking routes. Iisalmi has invested in high-quality and extensive education. In our primary and secondary schools, during the nine years of, compulsory education our pupils receive up to 19 weeks more instruction than is required by the national minimum standard. This is evident in our pupils’ learning outcomes. Iisalmi will give your children a head start in life. In Iisalmi, being close to nature doesn’t mean having to go without all the amenities. Iisalmi residents enjoy a high quality of life and can organise their lives effortlessly. When your day-to-day life is rolling along nicely, you will have more time for leisure than in busy and congested urban areas. And we can offer great ideas for how to spend the time you have freed up, from cultural activities to sports and exercise.
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Visit Iisalmi Cultural Centre for theatre and concerts, or listen to superb
jazz performances thanks to Koko Jazz Club’s partnerships with local restaurants.
Oluset festival brings together top
performers from across Finland. SHOPS AND Each summer, outdoor theatres put SERVICES on new shows, and the Oluset festival
We have been investing makes in sports daily lifebrings so together top performers from facilities for decades. Our top-level across Finland. And genuine Savo much easier. sports fields, halls, routes and tracks hospitality to crown it all. Come and have enough availability not only for experience it for yourself. the members of sports clubs but for all residents. Iisalmi offers many opportunities for good living. Choose a home that goes with your lifestyle; a city centre apartment close to the amenities or a house in the country in a peaceful location surrounded by nature. The City of Iisalmi offers a full and diverse 4 range of plots of land for those wanting to build their own home. For us, the dream of having a detached house by a lake in the city centre is a reality. The conditions for running your business in Iisalmi are excellent. We can provide you with land and premises for both industrial and service sector use. You will find that the city council and businesses work together without unnecessary formalities, and that the council has quick decision-making processes. The city council helps businesses to network, making it easier for new entrepreneurs to settle in Iisalmi. For visitors, the Iisalmi region offers a perfect break and many opportunities for enjoying an active leisure time. Impressive summer events offer unforgettable moments, year after year. Each summer, outdoor theatres put on new shows, and the
EXPERIENCE GENUINE SAVO
HOSPITALITY
It’s great for my career that my home town has
SEVERAL INTERNATIONALLY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES
Jarmo Ronkainen with their places for skills.
MAYOR City of Iisalmi tel. +358 40 661 5351 www.iisalmi.fi
Could you move to Iisalmi
BINGO
TAKE OUR TEST to see whether you would enjoy life in Iisalmi! If you agree with five or more statements, we seriously recommend that you move to Iisalmi. – or at least enjoy a holiday in Iisalmi and its regions.
I seek a platform for growth and partnership networks
I think luxury living means
A HOME BY A LAKE without breaking the budget.
THE CLOSEST SPORTS VENUE
FOR NEW BUSINESSES. I wouldn’t mind if it took
Convenient
In this brochure
we’ll prove that the Iisalmi Bingo statements are all true – discover more and fall in love with Iisalmi!
starts at my front door.
15 MINS TO CYCLE
SHOPS AND SERVICES make daily life so much easier.
Having an active lifestyle is easy when
I value offering a good standard of life for my kids: a high-quality and extensive education with a focus
ON DIGITAL LEARNING
to work.
as an investment in the future.
It's great for my career that my home town has
It’s lovely when my
GLOBALLY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES
FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR SAYS “HELLO” and the cashier in the
offering places for skills.
I get excited just by thinking that whichever direction I take from the market square, I’ll end up
BY WATER WITHIN 15 MINS.
When I miss culture and want to be
AT THE HEART OF EVENTS I’m already there.
shop gives me a smile.
5
AT HOME IN IISALMI
ANOTHER HAPPY NEWCOMER
My safe and pleasant hometown Having moved from Oulu to Iisalmi in 2015, Kari Nissinen says that it was easy to feel at home in Iisalmi. “I’m originally from North Karelia, so we often stopped at Iisalmi when we drove back from Oulu to the place where I grew up. It naturally helped me to settle down here because I knew Iisalmi a little beforehand. ”
You only have to move a few kilometres out of the city centre to find homes right by the water.”
Kari decided to move to Iisalmi when he received a job offer. After that, it was easy to find a home through an online search.
“The parks are particularly beautiful, and as dog owners we can choose from many walking routes. The city feels pleasant and in places it is exceptionally pretty,” Kari says excitedly.
Kari moved on the first weekend in May 2015, and his wife followed him after a year when she too had found work.The couple continues to live in the apartment they originally rented in the city centre, conveniently near all the amenities. “We have looked at some options, and fortunately there are many of those in Iisalmi.
Iisalmi is a town that
Kari has found Iisalmi offers safe small-town living. To him, Iisalmi feels quite urban with its grid-based plan, and the kind of place where everything is in good order.
He describes Iisalmi residents as talkative Savo people. It is another thing to help newcomers feel like home: people are openly welcoming. “I have lived in many places, like in Turku during my studies, and I also lived in Japan for a year. I have experienced many things, so living in Iisalmi has felt easy and simple. Before moving, Kari knew Iisalmi from his time as a young man playing competitive sports. He has played football against PK-37 and ice hockey against IPK in Iisalmi, and visited Luuniemi Tennis Centre.
INSPIRES TRUST and where all the amenities are close by
How have others settled down after moving here? WATCH the stories of Piia from Mikkeli and Darren from the UK:
“Iisalmi offers great leisure facilities. There are the ball games and I can try many other types of exercise and tap into a rich cultural scene,” he says. “I had a very positive image of the Iisalmi people before moving here, and I have found it to be true. This is a comfortable and pleasant little town,” he continues. He is particularly happy about the vibrant feel in the city centre. Along with sports and other leisure activities, there are concerts and a wealth of events to enjoy.
“The most important factor is that the region’s businesses are doing well. I wouldn’t be surprised if Iisalmi’s population started growing. There are already new apartment buildings going up and in the Virranpuisto area the next construction phase is gradually being planned.” ”Iisalmi is a town that inspires trust and where all the amenities are close by ”, Kari concludes.
AT HOME IN IISALMI
HOME BY A LAKE:
Home sweet home in Salakkakallio A detached house by a lake in the city centre. Many Finns say it’s their ultimate dream home, but it’s not always easy to find one. The Savolainen family in Iisalmi are just about living that dream: “It’s a couple of kilometres to the city centre”, says Katri Savolainen in the living room of her detached home, with views stretching over Lake Porovesi from her windows. “It takes less than 15 minutes to get to work on the other side of town, and I drop off the kids on the way in at our city centre day nursery,” she says. Katri Savolainen’s partner Tuomas Koponen works as a regional sales manager and spends a lot of time on the road. The Turku-based company also encourages remote working from home, so he doesn’t have a long way to get to work either. The couple’s home, built in 2014, has around 190 square metres of space on a 1,400 square-metre plot, with the lakeshore a stone’s throw away. And not just any shore, but a shallow beach with sand continuing several metres out to the open water. What would the Savolainen-Koponen household change about their home? Nothing, they say.
Katri and Tuomas moved to Iisalmi from Kuopio in 2008. They already knew that their home would be a detached house by a lake, preferably with some neighbours and a garden that would get the evening sun. When the plots on the Salakkakallio area were released, they soon found their own lakeshore idyll.
Katri Savolainen is a construction engineer, which helped with the building design after they had acquired their plot. “In fact, I had already designed this house years ago in my head. Now I just had to draw it on paper,” she says. The family feels they won the jackpot with the location in Salakkakallio, on a plot adjacent to the park. The peaceful area has adjoining plots, and the next neighbours can be found only tens of metres away. The city is only visible near Luuniemi with its detached houses and the lights from the cycle and foot paths.
There is little traffic because the family lives almost at the end of the road. They seem more than happy with their home and its location. “This is an excellent place for families with kids. We’re happy here - this is our dream home.”
WE’RE
HAPPY HERE - THIS IS OUR
DREAM HOME.
A SAFE AND INSPIRING PLACE TO GROW UP
WITH KIDS
The good-sized town for families with kids Iisalmi is located halfway between the cities of Kajaani and Kuopio, in Ylä-Savo, Finnish for “Upper Savonia”. Kainuu is on the other side of the regional border, and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area can be found at the end of the railway line, at a distance of 475 kilometres. Nevertheless, Saara Pennanen, an Iisalmi resident for the past 18 months, tells people that she lives “in the south”: ”It is, after all, a shorter distance to Helsinki than to my childhood home!” Pennanen was born in Kemijärvi in Lapland, she studied in Oulu and has worked in Kemi. When her husband Ville Pennanen was offered a job in Iisalmi 18 months ago, the couple moved to Savo with their two children. When Ville first mentioned the move, Saara’s first thought was
Olutmestari Restaurant’s mustikkakukko, a local blueberry bake. “I thought that if they have such good food here, it can’t be a bad place to live,” Saara says laughing. And Iisalmi did not disappoint them. The Pennanen family was made welcome and settled down without any problems. They already have examples to tell of the Savo people’s cheerfulness and small-town friendliness. “On a frosty morning soon after we had moved, I was walking with my eldest child to the club. A car stopped and the driver asked if we need a lift. You just can’t find people that willing to help in many places,” Saara says happily. In Iisalmi, the Pennanen family has loved the short distances everything is close by.
“When we were looking for day care for our children, we found the PikkuKenguru nursery. It has been the right choice for us,” says Saara. Iisalmi has eight municipal day nurseries and a Montessori nursery also managed by the city council. In addition, Iisalmi has a half a dozen private nurseries, one of which is the Pennanen children’s PikkuKengurun Koti, only a couple of hundred metres from the market square. Saara and Ville were pleasantly surprised by PikkuKenguru’s activities. Primary school teacher Saara was happy to find out that the nursery programme included foreign languages. Along with early language learning, the children are offered maths and music clubs and visits to interesting destinations. PikkuKengurun Koti is conveniently located in the city centre and the parents have found it easy to drop the kids off on their way to work. Iisalmi has proven a good place to live for a family with children in many ways. A compact city centre guarantees that the services are just around the corner: “Iisalmi is exactly the right size for providing all the services you need
DISCOVER MORE STORIES ABOUT FAMILIES www.iisalmi.fi
/byiisalmi
What kind of schools will Saara and Ville’s children find in Iisalmi? Read our story about the new Kangaslampi and Kauppis-Heikki Schools: “Ykkösluokan olosuhteet – esittelyssä Kangaslammin ja Kauppis-Heikin uudet koulut”
but it is nevertheless small enough and very welcoming - when people know each other, it inspires a feeling of safety. Children have quickly found new friends at the nursery and among the neighbouring families.” Iisalmi’s variety of leisure activities has astonished Saara: “There are so many activities and options for the children to choose from. And we have found gyms, a fantastic tennis centre and a golf course, and my husband has discovered the nearby fly-fishing locations.” The family currently lives in an apartment close to the city centre, by the River Paloisvirta. “Iisalmi hasn’t lacked options for homes, either. After we have sold our home in Oulu, we’ll have a look at the housing situation again. But we already know that there’s plenty to choose from and we could live comfortably in a detached house almost in the city centre.”
WHEN PEOPLE
KNOW EACH OTHER, IT INSPIRES A FEELING OF SAFETY.
A SAFE AND INSPIRING PLACE TO GROW UP
A TEACHER AND MOTHER GIVES TOP MARKS TO IISALMI
for digitalisation in education A teacher of more than ten years in Iisalmi, Heli Pesonen cannot give enough praise to Iisalmi’s new digitalisation strategy.
She is grateful to the city council and the foundations of Olvi-Säätiö and A.E. Aminoff Fund that supported the technology project.
In the autumn of 2017, all Iisami’s first- and second-year pupils were given their own tablets for school work. Year 5 pupils also have laptops at their disposal. However, these gadgets are not only for playing games on, but also for learning new things.
For teachers, this is an excellent purchase because now all children can use the same kind of equipment and are in an equal position, irrespective of their family backgrounds, she says. Heli herself teaches years 3 and 4, so children aged between 9 and 10: “We access the iPad portfolio for about an hour each week, and use the computer lab for a couple of hours per week. Our school also has six computers along the corridors, which we can access flexibly whenever we need,” says Heli.
“This technology is used in teaching. The tablets contain games for learning Finnish and maths, and they are also used for teaching the basics of coding,” says Heli.
New equipment provides Iisalmi’s schools with an opportunity to access the latest methods in delivering the new national core curriculum. “We use books as well, for example for learning Finnish, but often we search for information directly online. And so we not only find the information but we also learn how to use the Internet,” says Heli. The Pesonen family’s eldest boy, Veeti, is already doing his homework on the tablet without any problems, and soon his little brother Jiri will be there too. Jiri, age 3, may already start using tablets in pre-primary education.
“Nurseries also have tablets for kids for taking photos, shooting videos and making interviews,” Heli says. Iisalmi’s goal is to have all primary school children using their own equipment within five years. This leap in digitalisation is not the only investment the city council has made in children’s education: Iisalmi’s number of weekly lessons per year is among the highest in the country at 234 hours, and there has never really been a serious discussion about cutting the lesson hours. Iisalmi prides itself as a city of education that invests in children and young people.
IISALMI PRIDES ITSELF AS
A CITY OF EDUCATION THAT INVESTS IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
What is Iisalmi’s inspiring learning environment like? WATCH www.iisalmi.fi/houkuttelevakoulu
KOTI IISALMESSA
We asked
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Iisalmi has excellent leisure facilities and lovely areas and routes for walking. Outdoor exercise equipment and volleyball nets! And there are so many things going on: performers etc. People are nice and it’s easy to find friends.
The best things in Iisalmi are the variety and accessibility of services. And the wide range and high-quality of education opportunities.
people who have moved to Iisalmi for feedback on their new home town through a Newcomer Survey. Here are some of the responses they gave us: (Source: City of Iisalmi’s Newcomer Survey)
The infrastructure is properly looked after and the town gives the overall impression of being tidy and stylish, the residential areas are pleasant, the streets are not like some muddy tracks or dirt roads, and the city’s finances seem to be in balance, plus the wonderful PEOPLE!
Old wooden buildings. The market square has become livelier in recent years, and there are much more events taking place.
”
Generally speaking the town is tidy and there’s been investment in parks and planting in the green areas. There are good areas for outdoor activities, even very close to city centre.
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A beautiful town full of light. A peaceful setting but there’s lots of life. Close to water and nature.
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A lovely place for a family with children, everything is close by. There are many different opportunities for recreation and outdoor activities. The Familyhouse Partnership especially is a great one. I’ve been positively surprised by the range of services available!
A BEAUTIFUL TOWN FULL OF LIGHT. EVERYTHING IS CLOSE BY.
PLACE FOR SKILLS
FOR UK-MUOVI’S OPERATIONS IT WAS
a sensible choice to expand its business into Iisalmi Iisalmi and its regions have a strong concentration of metal industries, but the city also has plastics manufacturing, which might sound a bit more unusual for this area. UK-Muovi Oy’s history takes us back more than 50 years to the city of Lahti in 1963, when founder Unto Kivinen used his initials to name his new company. The current main shareholder Harri Naukkarinen moved to Iisalmi in 1980, having accepted a position as the factory director. “In 1993, the factory ownership was transferred to Naukkarinen’s family, and we have continued as a family business ever since,” says the current Managing Director Matti Aronen. The company’s products are naturally in high demand during the summer, when the construction industry springs into action in Finland. However, with most of their clients in the South of Finland, why has UK-Muovi decided to stay in Iisalmi? Because of the good availability of labour, according to Aronen. “In winter, we manufacture products for the next season. Because we can provide our professionals with interesting jobs around the year, we manage to keep our competent staff,” says Aronen happily. The company’s main products include insulation materials for the
construction industry, and other plastic manufactured goods marketed under its own brand. Consumers will be familiar with the composters, jetties and terraces in the UK-Muovi’s Greeny product family. The strongest seller, however, is the company’s Ukorex insulation range. Around Iisalmi, UK-Muovi’s largest customers include precast concrete product manufacturer Betonimestarit and concrete block manufacturer Lujabetoni, along with the local hardware stores. Home construction company Omatalo also uses UK-Muovi’s insulation materials. However, a large part of the insulation production is sold where most of the construction takes place, and in Finland that means the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and growing regional centres, such as Oulu. Aronen is pleased about UK-Muovi’s location: “For the company’s operations, that early decision to expand to Iisalmi made sense, because the area has good transport links,” he says. With a workforce of around 50 skilled professionals, UK-Muovi has developed its products with a view of making it viable to transport them to the construction sites elsewhere, such as in the South of Finland. “We have increased our degree of processing so that we can now
manufacture tailor-made insulation materials to the client’s exact measurements and in a ready to use form. We can also manage quick turnaround times, one of our competitive advantages,” Aronen continues. Along with precast concrete manufacturers and the housing industry, UK-Muovi also subcontracts for Ponsse, Normet and Genelec. “Working with companies in our home region, it’s naturally easier to arrange meetings and partnerships because the distances are short,” Aronen points out. A town that is just the right size also makes it simple to interact with government officials. “For example, when we have needed to expand, cooperation between us and the city council has been excellent. In a town of Iisalmi’s size, business networks also bring many benefits.
BUSINESS
NETWORKS BRING MANY BENEFITS.
PLACE FOR SKILLS
OWNING A BUSINESS IN IISALMI:
Riikka Hiltunen found happiness in Iisalmi
Who wouldn’t be familiar with Iisalmi’s sources of pride, internationally renowned Olvi, Normet, Genelec and Profile Vehicles. Iisalmi is not a place just for large exporters, however, and has welcomed many small companies to set up shop here. Crafting is an increasingly popular area of business, and Iisalmi has more specialist shops in this sector than many other towns of similar size. One of these retailers showcasing her craft skills is Riikka Hiltunen at Korupaja Onni, who has found both Finnish and international customers through her online shop. In 2014 Riikka, an Iisalmi-born artisan, was living in nearby Kuopio but could not find the passion she needed for her work. She finally made the big decision to return to her hometown and set up her own business. Riikka called it Onni, Finnish for “happiness”, and the jewellery workshop Onni was born. “This is exactly what I want to do. It is my happiness,” says Riikka. In Iisalmi, Onni found its place: “Iisalmi is a good place, I like it. I’ve lived in Kuopio and Lahti but never found myself feeling settled there.Iisalmi is just the right size. It has everything I need,” Riikka continues.
As a new entrepreneur who has been self-employed for a few years, Riikka remembers well how she contacted the City of Iisalmi’s business advisory service. She was offered help at many stages, last when she was looking for premises in the town centre. She finally chose a location on the busy Louhenkatu street. Since then, her customers have found their way to her shop, and the decision to relocate to the centre has proved a good one. In her workshop, Riikka both takes on commissions and repairs the jewellery that customers bring to her, for example changing a ring size. A qualified artisan, Riikka is only worried about finding the time for creating her own jewellery range. “I’m self-employed so I can decide when I work, and I will find the time for design work when I want. I like creating designs especially in the evenings when the workshop is closed and it’s peaceful. It gives me extra energy.” Riikka’s networks are also a source of energy: “It’s easy to network in Iisalmi. There’s good communication between the business owners, and all services, so help can be found quickly,” Riikka says.
And how has Riikka’s workshop Onni been found by international customers? Riika mentions Ben from the US who ordered a piece of jewellery as a present for his friend: “Both the jewellery design and online shopping can be done whenever, where ever – I can do these jobs perfectly well in Iisalmi where I have found the best things in my life: meaningful work, family and friends,” Riikka concludes.
ONNI FOUND ITS PLACE IN IISALMI. WATCH restaurant owner Kari Riihola’s story
PLACE FOR SKILLS
LOVE IN IISALMI:
False teeth
in the same glass In 1980, Iisalmi-born singersongwriter and folk artist Jaakko Teppo wrote his Iisalmi love song, which tells the story of Hilma and Onni from Pörsänmäki and how the couple’s evening routine was to drop their false teeth into the same glass. Hilma and Onni, just like all of Jaakko Teppo’s songs, have become part of Salla Kauppinen ’s life. “And the music of Halavatun Papat and Jamppa Kääriäinen,” says Salla and laughs. Having grown up in North Karelia, the reason for her interest in Savo music can be found in her new home in Iisalmi. Salla moved to Iisalmi in 2005 to go to college. At the time, how could she have guessed that some ten years later she would be living in the very same place, Pörsänmäki, that inspired Jaakko Teppo’s song. Salla’s explanation is that Iisalmi and a certain man from Iisalmi took her heart. -“I’m from Noth Karelia and Iisalmi was the closest location where I could study animal care. It was my field that brought me to Iisalmi.” During her first year at college Salla lived in Ylä-Savo Vocational College’s hall of residence in Peltosalmi, and then moved to a shared student flat in Koljonvirta. Outside college, the students mainly spent their time in part-time jobs and in the stables. Then when I reached the legal age, I could go to the town centre restaurants for the student parties,”
says Salla. Young students have found Iisalmi a good place to live. It has all the services they need, and nightlife to boot. “There are enough specialist shops, like equestrian supplies. And you can always find a student job if you need one,” Salla adds encouragingly. Salla found a partner in 2007 and moved with him to an apartment in a village school, 25 kilometres outside the town centre. They have later moved many times but always stayed in the countryside. After graduating from college, Salla worked as a qualified farm relief worker in the farmers’ holiday and stand-in scheme and as an animal attendant. For the past two years, she’s been working as a salesperson in a pet shop, Ylä-Savon Lemmikki. “There’s work in Iisalmi for those who want it,” Salla confirms. While working, Salla also completed a horse groom’s qualification at Ylä-Savo Vocational College’s Hingunniemi site. And she’s nearly qualified as an equine massage therapist, just waiting for her last vocational skills demonstration. “My granddad is from Rautavaara, so maybe I’ve secretly always been a Savo person at heart, since I’ve settled down here so well. I’ve always felt like at home in Iisalmi. And now my family and my horse will keep me here.”
IISALMI AND A CERTAIN MAN FROM IISALMI TOOK HER HEART.
WATCH the students’ story about Iisalmi
CAPTIVATING CULTURE AND THE JOY OF SPORTS
HIGH PRAISE FROM A YOUNG ATHLETE
“Really good facilities” Iisalmi is known for its many sports personalities and clubs. Ice hockey fans will know Peli-Karhut from the Mestis league, while footballers still remember Pallo-Kerho 37, playing in the second highest league at their best. Though the most time-honoured Iisalmi club must be Visa, with its history of more than a hundred years in a diverse range of sports. Having brought home a wealth of medals, championships and even Olympic gold, Visa has inspired many other clubs in Ylä-Savo. The tradition established by Visa has also encouraged the City of Iisalmi to invest in good sports facilities.Compared to many other towns, Iisalmi boasts excellent opportunities for exercise. One of the people actively using these facilities is Kiia Koivistoinen, a sprinter who at 15 is fast reaching the top level in her age group in Finland. Kiia’s goals are set for the Finnish national games in her age group: “Many other towns don’t have as good facilities as this one. Apart from running, I’ve been playing football, and the conditions for that are excellent,” says Piia, who began her sportswoman’s career under the age of 10 with football. The young footballer joined the training in Kankaan Liikuntapuisto Sports Park, Haukiniemi field and Kangaslampi football field.
“The matches are often held in Sankariniemi. All these fields are grass turf and located within a distance of two kilometres from each other. So it’s easy to cycle to training,” says Kiia, and continues: “For winter, Iisalmi has an indoor football stadium with an artificial surface. It’s much better than an air dome with a sand floor.” Currently Kiia is more focused on athletics and sprinting. It will demand more of her time later, so she’s had to leave football. Iisalmi also has good conditions for athletics. The training facilities are topped off by the Sankariniemen stadium: “This is a really great place to practice. Sankariniemi is the best – my home stadium”, says Kiia. In winter, athletes can train in the Apteekinmäki air raid shelter where Iisalmen Visa has its own training area with a track and facilities for other sports. Kankaan Liikuntapuisto Sports Park also has a running track that is the same length as the straight stretch of a running track. Along with football and athletics, Iisalmi people can get active in the ice hockey stadium, several gymnastics clubs and specialised sports clubs. Sports people get excited about Iisalmi’s walking and jogging routes and the excellent terrain for cross-country skiing, with tracks starting almost at one’s front door. The swimming pool
will also be renovated in the coming years. With a golf course and clubs for martial arts, there’s no excuse: Iisalmi offers outstanding facilities for an active lifestyle. Iisalmi was recently acknowledged for its positive attitude towards family activities – there are things to do and encouragement for all ages!
THINGS TO DO AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ALL AGES.
CAPTIVATING CULTURE AND THE JOY OF SPORTS
VITALITY FROM CULTURE:
At the heart of events in Iisalmi What would a town be without culture? Nothing. What would a town be like where arts and culture flourish? If you’d like to find out, come to Iisalmi and open the door to the Iisalmi Cultural Centre, the beating heart and centre of Iisalmi’s diverse cultural life. It offers activities including many clubs and entertainment for anybody hungry for new cultural experiences. When active participants in the town’s cultural life, Marja and Reijo Hartikainen, were asked about the cornerstones of Iisalmi’s arts and culture, they not only mentioned the fact that the Cultural Centre was built in the first place, but also that it has remained a vibrant venue: “The Cultural Centre provides many young and older people alike such a variety of arts and culture to engage in,” say Marja and Reijo. Marja Hartikainen previously
worked as the Cultural Centre’s first events coordinator andsaw what kind of effect the new Centre had on the town: “People were always so happy when they left the Centre!” she says. Another important cornerstone of culture and welfare is the Library, which gets top marks from both Marja and Reijo. The Library and the Cultural Centre are housed in a beautiful white building at the heart of the city, easy to find by Iisalmi residents and visitors alike and a home to many events, adult education courses, books and a shared living room for the town. Marja and Reijo are well aware of this: “I am one of the founders of our Arts School and it’s so lovely to see how it continues to flourish here in the Centre,” says Marja. The Cultural Centre also includes a captivating Natural Historym Museum: “Even many Iisalmi residents are surprised when they find out that
IF WE ATTENDED
ALL THE EVENTS WE WOULDN’T HAVE TIME FOR there’s such a museum here. You should definitely visit,” Reijo recommends. Actively participating in and fostering arts and culture in Iisalmi, the Hartikainens know that Iisalmi has a rich cultural life to offer: “If we attended all the events, we wouldn’t have time for anything else,” says Marja laughing. “Not many towns of this size have so many options to choose from,” Reijo adds.
HANYTHING ELSE.
EXCITING EXPERIENCES IN IISALMI
IISALMI REGION
-your perfect break Did you know that Iisalmi has the world’s smallest restaurant, Kuappi? Or what about the Wife-Carrying World Championships, which remains Finland’s best-known event globally?
Our events are simply in a league of their own. And along with these madcap, cheeky Savo happenings, we can also provide jazz, theatre, sports, arts and culture, whatever your taste. We will offer you adventures in nature and a genuine Savo sensation of wellbeing with that hygge feeling, Savo-made welfare products, comfort and a friendly service. Set in a living, farming countryside with access to good amenities. We’re proud of our clear waters and the pristine nature of the northernmost Finnish Lakeland. You’ll find us in the middle of Finland. Iisalmi and its regions have good transport links, whether you’re driving, taking the train or sailing. The closest airports are just an hour away in Kuopio and Kajaani or two and half hours away in Oulu. And you don’t always have to come from faraway places. Home sweet home, right? All this is on offer to the Iisalmi and Region residents as well.
#iisalmijatienoot #iisalmiregion
www.iisalmijatienoot.fi
See for yourself what the Iisalmi Region is like
EXCITING EXPERIENCES IN IISALMI
Attractive Iisalmi
The City of Iisalmi is alive and developing also thanks to Iiden, the urban area development association. With the City of Iisalmi and other bodies, Iiden helps the businesses and property owners in Iisalmi’s urban area work together.
WE ARE SO HAPPY
Our objective is to make Iisalmi even more attractive, a commercial centre rich in events and diverse services. Iiden organises an abundance of city centre events and shared campaigns, enhancing our town and making it even more attractive, vibrant and pleasant. “At Iiden we’re always so happy when we see Iisalmi’s streets bustling with people, life and events. Our town with its service providers, shopping and parks is meant to be a pleasant space - a shared living room for residents and visitors alike. hat’s what we’re working for!” say Iiden’s Development Manager Mervi Narinen and Chairman Pekka Heikkinen.
KATUKUVASSA WHEN STREETS BUSTLE WITH PEOPLE, LIFE AND EVENTS.
What’s on in Iisalmi Regions right now, or next week? Why not have a peek at our events calendar and join us!
NO PLACE LIKE THE COUNTRYSIDE
IS IT PESOLA OR RUNNI
that’s the centre of the world?
We’re on Pesola Farm in the village of Runni in Iisalmi. Farmer Antti Niskanen is sitting in his yard, looking ahead, as would be expected of the Local Producer of the Year. Pesola Farm won the K-Ruoka Awards Local Producer category in 2016, based on tens of thousands of audience votes – showing that both the producer and his produce were much loved. Speaking in his trademark Savo dialect, Antti says: “We have this old saying that ‘Iisalmi is a town next to Runni.’ These days, it’s more true than ever before. Runni is a handsome piece of countryside between Kiurujoki and Haapajärvi.” Except that the latter sounds more like Huapajärvi. Antti has become famous for his native dialect, especially on Facebook, and for his humour. Antti took over the running of his family’s farm some 30 years ago and hasn’t looked back. “It’s a good place to bring up a family, Runni; we have a primary school, soon in a new building, day care for the little ones, a spa and what not. And it’s just as good for getting old or even to breath one’s last, we
NO BETTER WAY OF RELIEVING STRESS
have nursing care right here.” The town centre of Iisalmi is 20 kilometres away but the locals do not have to visit it for their everyday needs – this is a lively village with good services. “We get what we need from the village shop, and Neulatammi Dam is good for fishing, at least for roaches. You might catch something else too, or you might not. Standing in the foaming water for an hour really gets your blood running.” “What Runni doesn’t have, we don’t need. We’ll look after you here. The countryside and Runni especially have some good places to start a business,” says this Savo-talking farmer. Despite loving the countryside and his own region, Antti often hits the road, selling his Pesolan Pihviliha steak across Finland. We have good roads, ten or twenty kilometres extra doesn’t matter one way or the other,” says Antti continuing to heap lavish praise to the Iisalmi region and Runni: “It’s so peaceful here in the countryside and so much space that we can keep expanding whichever way we want. Then when all your jobs keep
going to pieces, you just go out to the terrace and have a cup of coffee and admire these beautiful views over the lake or the suckler cows on the pasture with their calves.” ”No better way of relieving stress, and after the break you’re ready to get going again. There’s no traffic noise and you don’t have to worry about getting run over in your own yard. Well, I did once walk around with my headset on and nearly got caught by a car coming from behind,” Antti says with a grin. While Antti pays tribute to the tranquillity of country life, he also acknowledges that the countryside close to a regional centre can be a good location for businesses: “We have business networks just like anywhere else. We all need each other. You can’t make it alone if you want to succeed in life and work.” Antti adds that not all entrepreneurs can work in city centres – himself being one of them:
“It would be a pretty difficult job to raise cattle and Pesolan Pihviliha steak in a city. Mind you, there would be less work for lawnmowers if the cows ate the grass in city parks.” It’s not many people that would want to leave their home, and Antti is definitely here to stay. But even though it might feel like an odd choice to begin with, this farmer encourages urban people to visit the countryside and find out about the opportunities it gives. “It’s easy to come to Runni to see the animals. And we’re happy to deliver our steak to town and even further. These businesses keep running thanks to the partnerships between hauliers, food processing companies and others. We don’t have the time to do everything ourselves and it wouldn’t be viable either. You just do what you know best. And nobody gets so much poorer doing this job that he couldn’t give some work to others, even though getting rich is doubtful too,” the master of Pesola Farm adds, as his last philosophical comment.
Contents
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IISALMI GEOGRAPHY
Welcome to Iisalmi!
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Could you move to Iisalmi BINGO
3
At home in Iisalmi
4-5
A safe and inspiring place to grow up We asked
6-7
872,18 km2,
of which 762.97 km² is land and 109.21 km² is fresh water.
Total shoreline 746,48 km (lakes, rivers and islands)
Population density
29 inhabitants per km² of land
Iisalmi lies within the headwaters of two major lake systems, Saimaa and Päijänne.
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Place for skills
10 - 13
Captivating culture and the joy of sports
14 - 15
Exciting experiences in Iisalmi
16 - 17 16 - 17
No place like countryside
Total area
18
IISALMI PEOPLE (on 31 Dec 2016) Population 21,767 Average age
44.6 years
Under 15 years
15.5%
15 to 64 years
60,9 %
Over 64 years
23,6 %
75 years in 2016
2 279 henkilöä
Iisalmi residents are known for being friendly and cheerful, entrepreneurial and positive.
IISALMI INDUSTRIES Jobs in total
8,839 (31 Dec 2015)
5.3% in primary production, 22.8% in processing, 71.9% in services
Number of businesses Ylä-Savo region’s business turnover in total
1,100 2,381 million euros
(Iisalmi, Kiuruvesi, Vieremä, Sonkajärvi, Lapinlahti 2016)
Ylä-Savo region’s business exports
568 million euros
(Iisalmi, Kiuruvesi, Vieremä, Sonkajärvi, Lapinlahti - 2016)
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INTERNATIONAL IISALMI
MAP
– A REGIONAL CENTRE FOR EXPORTS Iisalmi is the centre of Ylä-Savo’s economic area of around 60,000 people. In 2016, Ylä-Savo’s exports were valued at 568 million euros, making it the region’s strongest exports area! Iisalmi also provides services to residents in the nearby towns:
WITHIN AN HOUR’S DRIVE:
250.000 PEOPLE Kuopio, Siilinjärvi, Nurmes, Kajaani, Pyhäntä, Pyhäjärvi, Keitele IISALMI
Iisalmi
21,800
Keitele
2,350
Kiuruvesi
8,500
Lapinlahti
9,900
Pielavesi
4,700
Pyhäjärvi
5,500
Sonkajärvi 4,200 Vieremä
3,750
HISTORY, IDENTITY AND THE FUTURE In the history of Finland, Iisalmi is best known for the Battle of Koljonvirta (1808) during the Finnish War. Iisalmi’s Cultural Centre brings together diverse events.
BY A MAIN RAILWAY LINE - ROAD TRAFFIC HUB - GET TO THE AIRPORT IN LESS THAN AN HOUR
Iisalmi fosters learning with high-quality and extensive basic education with a focus on digital learning. Iisalmi is a place for skills where business partnerships create outstanding added value. Iisalmi seeks to become Finland’s most attractive regional city by 2030.
By Iisalmi PLACE FOR SKILLS
WHY is Iisalmi associated with ‘the miracle of Iisalmi’, being a source of positive thinking, and boasting business partnerships that create outstanding added value? TRUE STORIES STORIES OF SKILLS AND HAPPY LIVES! Discover our stories in this brochure and be inspired - there’s a place waiting for you among the happy, highly skilled people of Iisalmi!
www.iisalmi.fi /byiisalmi #byiisalmi #osaamisenpaikka Petterinkulma
CITY OF IISALMI Pohjolankatu 14 / PO Box 10, FI-74101 Iisalmi Switchboard +358 17 272 3 www.iisalmi.fi firstname.lastname@iisalmi.fi
City Hall i-point / Office tel. +358 40 350 4217 City of Iisalmi on social media:
#byiisalmi #osaamisenpaikka #iisalmijatienoot
www.iisalmi.fi